Harness Racing Victoria form guru Craig Rail noticed some standout runners at recent trials.
At Ararat, Stately Salome made an impressive return. The nicely bred mare, who hasn’t raced since winning at Geelong in December 2023, scored a comfortable trial victory.
At Melton, Sols Me Name showed plenty of ability, finishing off strongly from the one-one trail to record a smart win.
Also at Melton, Our Angels Envy, an unraced Rock N Roll Heaven filly for Adam Kelly, caught the eye when she worked home strongly late for second.
COBRAM 23/10/25
Trial 1: – OKANUI BEACH showed brilliant gate speed to find the lead and ran along at a genuine tempo. He kicked well clear with 500m remaining and never appeared to be in any danger of defeat. BENNIE AND THE JETS NZ settled last of the four runners, came to the outside at the quarter and finished off well for a handy second. He followed with third in the Kyabram Cup at Shepparton on Wednesday night. TURBO JAY settled three back on the inside and finished third ahead of NORDIC REIGN, which showed gate speed to trail the leader but peaked late. TURBO JAY backed up at Shepparton on Wednesday night and used the sprint lane to land the money.
Mile Rate: – 1.59.3 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 20m, 20m
Trial 2: – AUSSIE JAY MAC NZ trailed the leader and came to the outside with 400m remaining. He finished off best to get the prize and will be backing up at Shepparton on Tuesday night. TOUCH OF REALITY settled last of the trio, used the sprint lane in the home straight and poked through for second position. GINGER ELLA began quickly and established a clear leading margin during the middle stages of the event. She was run down in the latter stages and finished last of the trio but wasn’t beaten by far.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.6 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 2m, Neck
ECHUCA 26/10/25
Trial 1: – WICKED MITZI began quickly and ended up being behind the leader. He came to the outside on the home turn and sprinted quickly for an emphatic victory. He will be resuming from a break at Charlton on Monday. KITSUNE began quickly to find the lead and backed off the tempo mid-race. He couldn’t repel the challenge of WICKED MITZI at the end but he beat the remainder of the field by a comfortable margin. HOORAH PHILTRA raced without cover early, restrained to be four back on the markers and worked into third. He is backing up at Swan Hill this evening. PEE BEES DELIGHT was last of the quartet to the line after settling three back on the markers.
Mile Rate: – 2.3.0 Last Half: – 58.9 Margins: – 2m, 10m
Trial 3: – SPORTS NARRATOR began very quickly to find the lead from the outside of the front line and ran along at an even tempo. He had a good kick left at the finish and was able to win by a comfortable margin. RED ROBBER trailed the leader and used the sprint lane. He finished in second on his way to resumption at Shepparton on Tuesday night with CRACKIN PHILTRA being third past the post after racing roughly at the start and settling four back on the inside. ROCKIN CHARMER settled three back on the markers after starting from the pole position and battled on fairly well.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.0 Last Half: – 60.1 Margins: – 10m, 2m
BACCHUS MARSH 26/10/25
Trial 1: – HEY GIGI settled in the second half of the field and couldn’t run on at his latest Geelong tenth. He was able to produce a good performance in his trial victory, recording handy time and winning by a large margin. He backed up at Ballarat on Thursday night. TRIROCKIN hasn’t started since a sixth at Melton in April and finished in second position with LEVI EDISON being the third horse past the post.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.3 Last Half: – 58.2 Margins: – 15m, 8m
Trial 3: – ROCKIN BULL is returning to Victoria after having a long stint in South Australia, where he won three races. He has joined the Anthony Butt and Sonya Smith training combination and was able to win the trial by a comfortable margin in the fastest time of the day. He is competing at Melton tomorrow night. ONYX was stood down to trial after his performance at Stawell on September 15. He finished in second position with BLACK TUXEDO and IDEAL CRAZY being third and fourth respectively. ONYX will be competing at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.0.7 Last Half: – 58.6 Margins: – 6m, 2m
Trial 6: – UNCLAD hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Abrahams Classic in August. He won two races in succession early in his career and he will be preparing for Redwood Classic on Sunday. He won the last trial from FRENCH MISSILE, which broke stride at his latest race track performance. FRANCO AMERICANO, which won at his latest race track appearance at Maryborough in June, was last of the trio to cross the line. He will be resuming at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 2.11.2 Last Half: – 60.4 Margins: – 2m, 2m
ARARAT 27/10/25
Trial 1: – IJUSTCANTSEEIT has struck trouble in both of her race starts to date. She was able to build up some confidence with a trial victory over the Michael Bellman trained juveniles RAPTA and ZOOLU. All of the three trotters will be competing at Maryborough on Sunday with ZOOLU taking her place in the Group 1 Redwood Classic.
Mile Rate: – 2.11.2 Last Half: – 62.2 Margins: – 1m, 8m
Trial 2: – JET ROCK hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Super Series Silver event in September 2023. He boasts a career best time of 1.54.5 and has won five races so he is a smart horse when he is racing at his peak. He won the trial by a large margin over FLAMING MEL, which hasn’t raced since an Ouyen victory in May. COOPER CHUBB and THELONGROADOFHOPE finished third and fourth respectively. The new season 2yo pacers are startling to appear at the trials and ULTIMATE DELITE finished in fifth for trainer Michael Bellman. He is a colt by Ultimate Machete out of Grinning Dollar (1.56.3, $43,323) and is the second foal of the dam.
Mile Rate: – 2.1.0 Last Half: – 57.9 Margins: – 12m, 49m
Trial 3: – STATELY SALOME is a nicely bred mare, which hasn’t started since a win at Geelong back in December 2023. She has won two races to date and was able to win in her comeback trial by a comfortable margin. HALLEBESOFINE is a tough juvenile trotter, which has enjoyed a good season and will be competing in the Redwood Classic on Sunday. She finished in second ahead of TIPPLE TIME, which remains undefeated in two starts and returns from a spell in the opening event at Maryborough this afternoon. VIXAN is an unraced filly by Propulsion out of the race winning mare Fleetwood Blue (2.2.8, $23,088), making her a close relation to three winners including Majestic Pride (1.58.8) and Jazspur (1.57.7). She was the fourth horse across the line in a strong trial.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.4 Last Half: – 62.5 Margins: – 4.5m, Neck
BLACKBOOKER: – Stately Salome
MELTON ENTERTAINMENT PARK 28/10/25
Trial 1: – HILLTOP HUGH has only tasted defeat once in four starts to date. All of his efforts have been from the mobile start and he was attempting to qualify from behind the tapes in the opening trial. He stepped away in second behind the leader ICONIC IMAGE, came to the outside with 500m remaining and was too good in the run to the finish. He is competing in the opening event at Maryborough on Sunday. The Redwood Classic aspirant ICONIC IMAGE was a clear leader early, set up a slow tempo and battled on fairly well for second. UNKNOWN SON settled three back on the markers, broke stride momentarily when commencing a run at the 300m and regathered momentum to finish in third.
Mile Rate: – 2.7.1 Last Half: – 59.2 Margins: – 5.75m, 1.25m
Trial 2: – EL RESAMO hasn’t raced since a tenth at Melton on August 23 but he indicated he is close to his peak form with a dominant trial victory in a slick mile rate of 1.56.0. He is perfectly drawn to suit his racing pattern at Maryborough on Sunday. SAM NIEN finished third against his own age group in the Need For Speed Prince at his latest attempt. He did well for second with the speedy trotter ALRIGHTY being the third horse across the line. TWEEDLEDEE NZ has been racing well against elite opposition since returning from South Australia and was the fourth horse across the line. He has drawn on the pole position for the Maryborough Cup on Sunday.
Mile Rate: – 1.56.0 Last Half: – 57.5 Margins: – 9.75m, 3.25m
Trial 4: – JAYS ALL THAT galloped away in the standing start trial to commence the card and retired out of the event. He switched to the mobile start for the fourth event and scored impressively after producing a big finish from four back on the markers. His standing start manners weren’t ideal for the Redwood Classic on Sunday but his mobile performance was very good. KYVALLEY RAMBLER trailed the leader early before taking cover at the 900m. He then moved away from the inside in the back straight on the final occasion and battled on fairly well for second. HEAVENLY GLOW settled four back on the markers, came away from the inside at the bell and sprinted sharply to find the lead shortly afterwards. She battled away for third and finished well ahead of WHAT THE TOOTH, which led out then took cover mid-race. HEAVENLY GLOW will be racing at Maryborough on Sunday and is also nominated for Shepparton on Tuesday.
Mile Rate: – 2.2.2 Last Half: – 59.0 Margins: – 26m, head
Trial 5: – SOLS ME NAME has a lot of ability but is still learning. He settled three back on the inside, moved into the one out and one back trail at the 600m and finished off best to record a smart win. SOHO TRUMP settled four back on the inside, moved into the death seat at the 800m and hit the front at the quarter pole. He was run down at the end but still performed soundly. SUMTHIN ELSE finished in third after setting the speed and SPRINGFIELD RIVER (trailed leader) was last of the quartet to cross the line.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.2 Last Half: – 56.7 Margins: – 6.5m, 2.75m
Trial 8: – COASTAL DRIVE broke stride at the start but was able to reset quickly and even held the lead into the first turn. He ran along at a genuine tempo and was able to hold off the late challenge of RAGING WHITEBAIT NZ to win in fast time. RAGING WHITEBAIT NZ took the trail shortly after the start, used the sprint lane and found the line well. He is competing in a strong race at Melton tomorrow night. CAPTAIN BELLASARIO was three back on the markers and finished in third with LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS being last of the quartet for the duration. LOOK LIKE DIAMONDS is competing at Melton tomorrow night.
Mile Rate: – 1.54.6 Last Half: – 55.0 Margins: – Neck, 7m
Trial 9: – ULTIMATE JOY was a far margin behind the leader early but was in the one out and one back trail and was able to progress closer mid-race. He came to the outside with 300m remaining and finished off best to gain the prize. OUR ANGELS ENVY is an unraced filly by Rock N Roll Heaven for trainer Adam Kelly. She second three back on the outside and worked home strongly through the middle late for an eye-catching second. OLLIES MEDAL was third past the post after setting up a handy tempo in the middle stages. DAUGHTER OFDARKNES settled six back on the inside, moved up without cover mid-race and battled on okay for fourth. She is resuming from a spell at Shepparton on Tuesday night.
Mile Rate: – 1.57.9 Last Half: – 58.5 Margins: – 1.5, 3.25m
BLACKBOOKER: – Our Angels Envy
